Kibaki’s first Finance minister Mwiraria succumbs to cancer

Former Finance minister David Mwiraria presenting a past budget at Parliament buildings. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By MUGAMBI MUTEGI

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Summary

• Ex-Finance minister passes away at Karen Hospital in Nairobi after a battle with cancer.
• A source who confirmed the death said the family would issue a statement later.
• He served as Kenya's 10th Finance minister in President Mwai Kibaki's administration but resigned in 2006 following allegations involving the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Former Finance minister David Mwiraria died Thursday aged 79, bringing down the curtains on a man who has lived an illustrious but reclusive life of public service and politics stretching back five decades.

Mwiraria, a two-term Imenti North MP and career public servant, succumbed to cancer at the Karen Hospital in Nairobi.

The same ailment claimed the life of his wife Jerusha Gatune in May 2003, just weeks before the soft-spoken man was scheduled read his first Budget speech under former President Mwai Kibaki’s government.

When his wife died, he still reported to work to the bemusement of his colleagues – working hard to ensure his boss’ fiscal plan for the country is remarkable if only to match the euphoria that welcomed his election.

“For the first time in the history of the country, the taxpayer will get value for his money,” he declared just a day to the Budget.

This action of sticking to budgetary matters as he mourned his wife captured his essence; those who knew him said he was a time conscious perfectionist and that, even if something bothered him, he would not let it manifest.

After all, he attained a master’s degree in mathematics aged just 26, the Budget had to be watertight, his personal circumstances notwithstanding.

Fast-forward three years and the statistician’s curriculum vitae, which was until then unblemished, got its stubborn stain which dramatically stalked him to his death.

Mwiraria resigned from office in 2006 after he was adversely mentioned in a report by John Githongo, the then adviser to Mr Kibaki on ethics and integrity.

Then avid reader, farmer, photographer and golfer stood accused, alongside 13 other individuals, for their role in the infamous multi-billion shilling Anglo Leasing scam.

Mwiraria faced four counts of conspiracy to commit an economic crime and to defraud the government of Sh4.08 billion.

In a separate count, he was accused of authorising the financing of a project intended to upgrade police and other security systems valued at $59.6 million (Sh6.1 billion).

This high-profile case, which roped in individuals such as former Finance PS Joseph Magari and billionaire businessman Deepak Kamani, is still dragging on in court.

Early 2015, Mwiraria failed to appear in court on several occasions to take plea on the matter, with his lawyer, Kioko Kilukumi, saying he was ill and admitted to the Karen Hospital.

The presiding magistrate at one point issued a warrant of arrest against the former